welcome to night eating!

educating yourself about eating disorders...

what's your relationship with yourself like?
obesity
still searching? click here!
are you mindful & aware?
where does your energy go to?
nobody's perfect...
dieting?
you are a valuable person
click here if you're disappointed in yourself....
click here if you're disappointed in yourself....

click the underlined link below to send email

click here to send me an e-mail... anyone need to ask a question, say hello or just need to chat....  click the above link to send email now!

education is the key to understanding what is happening to you every night...
 
the following information about eating disorders, abuse & night eating can be read over & sorted thru to find symptoms that may compare to what you're experiencing...

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dis·or·der   
n.
  1. A lack of order or regular arrangement; confusion.
  2. A breach of civic order or peace; a public disturbance.
  3. An ailment that affects the function of mind or body: eating disorders & substance abuse. To disturb or interrupt the regular & natural functions of (either body or mind); to produce sickness or indisposition in; to discompose; to derange; as, to disorder the head or stomach.

tr.v. dis·or·dered, dis·or·der·ing, dis·or·ders

  1. To throw into confusion or disarray.
  2. To disturb the normal physical or mental health of; derange.

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I've been updating this website, as part of the emotional feelings network of sites, because I am much farther along in my recovery now than I was when I began working on night eating.
 
Although I haven't been a night eater for some time now, I feel that the understanding of how all eating disorders work is especially important for those of you experiencing night eating syndrome.
 
There are doctors who are studying night eating syndrome that believe that the disorder is part eating disorder and part sleep disorder. I believe it to be totally connected to eating. I believe it occurs, just as other eating disorders do because of some kind of dysfunction in life, trauma, crisis, abuse or poor parenting.
 
As I've begun to update I see that other sites are adding more information to their sites about common eating disorders because researchers are hot on the topic of eating disorders to find out how to treat them. In the past, the stigma of having an eating disorder was so horribly negative that many people just lived in the closet.
 
Coming out to admit you're eating disordered is the very first step.
 
Thanks for stopping by night eating. I truly believe that information is power, education leads to understanding, and understanding is the key to overcoming night eating.
 
The added denominator that takes my beliefs off on a different journey is the fact that I believe that eating disorders, especially night eating co-exists with a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or depression more times than not. I also believe that a change in lifestyle must be taken to overcome the habit. 
 
The final straw & the reason I add the emotional feelings network to the mental health site & this one is that hidden somewhere within in, each of us experiencing night eating, is that part of us that has been hurt beyond coping ability. We no longer are able to cope in any way acceptable to us, so when we're at our weakest time, at night... we eat.
 
It's our Achille's Heel. We aren't able to function properly because of our lack of sleep, poor nutritional habits, too much stress over the night eating cycle, as well as other factors in our lifestyle with the combination of unresolved emotions & feelings & the mental illness factor.
 
Hang in there & read as much of the information on this site as you can!
 
kathleen 

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I truly recommend using the resource of the underlined link words when reading thru this website. It's invaluable.
 
Some of us think differently than others...
I designed this network of over 20 sites by recovering by trial & error, totally as a self help venture.
 
I researched information & compared. I discovered what other people were feeling & experiencing. I found the connections between lifestyle, age, gender, mental health, physical health, unresolved emotions & feelings, coping abilities, genetic history, family history & ended up understanding every article, in total view of the whole picture by clicking on the underlined link words.
 
I did all the work, now you take advantage of it!
 
Our minds work in funny ways. We may think we know about something, but as soon as we start reading something that we don't know, but thought we did.... a light comes on!
 
Something triggers a memory, a feeling, an emotion that has been lurking behind the surface begging to come out. Understanding everything to the best of your ability makes recovery easier.
 
Do yourself a favor and click on the underlined link words!
 
kathleen

more information? click here & learn more about eating disorders in general...

Click here to join nighteating101
Click to join nighteating101

update! 12/11/07 we currently have 41 active members! check in & visit! it's an active & upbeat group!!!!  
 
Consider joining us in the newly formed "night eaters group" at yahoo groups! there's a few new members who have joined already & articles posted in the database for added help to those trying to stop night eating! it's a support opportunity for those experiencing night eating.... join us.... we'd love to see you there! click the above yahoo groups link to join!

Many of the articles posted within the emotional feelings network of sites were found at the website above... thanks so much & be sure to visit them! There's so much information to be found there!
kathleen

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welcome to night eating!
 
Please read the following as it contains important information for optimal site navigation!

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If you haven't visited the homepage, you're missing out on some important info, so I'll just give you a "heads up" here!
 
How this site works best for you!
 
You'll notice that there are many underlined link words in each article below. The reason for this is that you have reached not only, "night eating," but the emotional feelings network of sites. There are many sites included within the network that'll be visited by clicking on these underlined link words.
 
The reason for this opportunity is very simple & yet you may be unnerved by all those underlined words! I've been in recovery from post traumatic stress disorder, depression & many other dysfunctional ventures & thru it all I've discovered that emotion & feeling work may be the missing link that many people miss when trying to find solutions to their problems.
 
Developing a sense of curiosity about why you feel the way you do, is essential in finding the solution you so desperately are searching for.
 
If you can't find what you came here looking for, visit the homepage for the emotional feelings network of sites by clicking above & read the options on the homepage for the networks index of sites. Try to be specific when looking for an emotion or feeling word & click on the site you need!
 
It's very simple & very interesting to follow your way thru the layers of your buried or stuffed emotions & feelings that have accumulated throughout the years!
 
when you've reached this point, or this website, you know you're making progress!!!! this part gets difficult because now is the time to look within & become emotionally honest with yourself!!!
 
Best of luck & if you're still stuck, send me an e-mail anytime, by clicking here & I'll be glad to send you an immediate personal response!
 
Sincerely,
Kathleen

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as you're reading thru the info on this page, ask yourself where your head is at this minute...
 
are you taking in the information with an open mind? are you aware of the possibilities that are available for you to tune in on?
 
"Eating disorders occur most commonly in adolescents & young adults & are 10 times more common in females than in males."
 

from: Diagnosis of Eating Disorders in Primary Care

SARAH D. PRITTS, M.D., and JEFFREY SUSMAN, M.D.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio

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the faces of eating disorders...

Causes of Eating Disorders

While eating disorders may begin with preoccupations with food & weight, they're most often about much more than food.

click here for more info 

Eating disorders are complex conditions that arise from a combination of:

  • long-standing behavioral, emotional, psychological, interpersonal & social factors

Scientists & researchers are still learning about the underlying causes of these emotionally & physically damaging conditions.

We do know, however, about some of the general issues that can contribute to the development of eating disorders.

People with eating disorders often use food & the control of food in an attempt to compensate for feelings & emotions that may otherwise seem overwhelming.

For some, dieting, bingeing & purging may begin as a way to cope with painful emotions & to feel in control of one’s life, but ultimately, these behaviors will damage a person’s physical & emotional health, self-esteem & sense of competence & control.

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stay with me now...
let's look at some of the above factors. competency shows up in several important areas. one of the most pertinent factors that ties in with social, family & genetic factors that can cause disordered eating habits is - "change." read the article below & understand how it ties in to the "bigger picture" which is - "who develops an eating disorder & why"?
 
"Unfortunately, the diagnosis of eating disorders can be elusive & more than one half of all cases go undetected."
 
Becker AE, Grinspoon SK, Klibanski A, Herzog DB. Eating disorders. N Engl J Med 1999;340:1092-8.

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The 3 Key Components to Any Successful Change - By Mary Ann Bailey, MC

We live in a world that's constantly bombarding us with changes. One would think that with all that practice, we'd be fairly adept at navigating the change process.

But the truth of the matter is, making any kind of intentional change in our life can be difficult.

transitions, changes, they happen....

When we decide to change something in our lives, we make the decision to swap out the old & familiar for something new & unknown. This upsets our equilibrium & can be frightening & somewhat disorienting.

But we can lessen these feelings of uncertainty & ensure ourselves a greater chance of success, if we initially take the time to address the 3 key components necessary for any successful change.

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These components are: commitment, competence & structure.

COMMITMENT: (goes to make a point about commitment on the additional info on eating disorder's page!)

Most of us believe when we decide to make a change in our lives that we're fully committed to doing what it takes to make that change happen.

But commitment can be a tricky thing.

There can be part of us who is truly committed to the change, while there may be other parts of us who have no desire to change.

This phenomenon is known as having "competing commitments".

Competing commitments create resistance & having to deal with resistance is what often causes us to give up before we reach our goal.

Example: Megan wants to start an exercise program to lose weight & increase her energy level. She signs up for a class at health club & is excited about getting started. The first few mornings go well, but then she begins to notice that her enthusiasm is waning.

Megan begins to sabotage her progress by skipping classes & telling herself that her instructor isn’t really sensitive to her needs. She feels that she's still committed to losing weight & doesn't really understand where her resistance is coming from.

Resistance is the red flag for competing commitments. In Megan's case the competing commitment turned out to be her desire to spend time with her friends. She had a weekly get-together that she assumed she no longer could attend because she had to get up early in the morning to exercise.

Megan saw her dilemma as an either/or situation. She believed that she would have to give up one activity in order to have the other.

Once she realized that that wasn’t actually true – that her friends would be willing to change their meeting time – Megan began to relax & her resistance disappeared.

COMPETENCE:

The 2nd key element is competence. Competence means having the skills necessary to make the change happen, or having the time, energy & ability needed to acquire the skill.

Example:
Lucy
was having trouble at work with one of her workers, Kris. Every time Lucy would try & talk to Kris about her negative attitude, the conversation would end up very heated & both women would leave feeling upset & unheard.

Lucy was committed to finding a way to try & help Kris see how her attitude was affecting her team & the whole organization.

After several less-than-satisfactory attempts at trying to solve the problem herself, Lucy realized that she wasn't as skilled at having these kinds of conversations as she needed to be. At this point she had to decide whether or not she wanted to commit to strengthening her ability to have difficult conversations.

Lucy knew she was capable of learning what was needed & she was committed to seeing her problem thru; so she decided to hire a consultant to help her address the situation.

STRUCTURE:

The last element is structure. Structure is the most important element in making change happen, but it's very often overlooked.

Structure is what holds the change process together. It refers to any resources you might need, such as Megan's exercise class or Lucy’s consultant. It also refers to the systems needed to support you as you're working thru your change.

Structure provides the safety net. It allows you to share the burden of change with others, therefore lightening your load. It also helps ensure success, as a team effort is usually more successful than one person going it alone.

Who do you call when you're feeling stuck, discouraged, or you want to quit?

Who do you celebrate with when you're successful?

Who'll be there to prod you, encourage you & remind you how great you are & that what you're doing is wonderful?

However, we often forget to put this piece into place & then we're left to face the struggles by ourselves.

We can become overwhelmed & give up feeling defeated & discouraged. Making sure you have a strong structure in place to support you thru your change can keep this from happening.

Although the process of change is often described as difficult, it also can be an incredibly exciting journey.

Change is the source of energy that keeps us moving forward & allows us to discover new things about ourselves & our world. But, as with all journeys, the better you prepare for it, the smoother your trip will be.

So, the next time you're faced with a change, make sure you're clear about your commitment, realistic about your competence & that you've taken the time to create a solid structure to support you. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised with the end results.

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okay... that's what it takes to be successful with changes in your life...
but what happens if you feel like you're not competent, you can't commit and you feel that you aren't strong enough to get things together yourself & you have no support or structure?
 
how do you cope with change then? do you eat? at night when your defenses are sleeping? think about it!
 

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Family factors

Some people with eating disorders say they feel smothered in overprotective families.

Others feel

Parents who over-value physical appearance can unwittingly contribute to an eating disorder. So can those who make critical comments, even in jest, about their children's bodies.

Families that include a person with an eating disorder tend to be overprotective, rigid & ineffective at resolving conflict.

Sometimes mothers are emotionally cool while fathers are physically or emotionally absent.

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excerpt: Excerpts from the Archives of the Narcissism List - Narcissists & Depression - (one reason for being emotionally absent)

"If by "depression" we also mean "numbness" then most narcissists are simply numb, emotionally absent, non-existent. Their emotions aren't accessible, not "available" to them. So, they inhabit a grey emotional twilight zone.

They regard the world thru a glass opaquely. It all looks false, fake, invented, contrived, in hues of wrong. But they don't have a sense of living in prison. I have been to prison.

Once in it, you remember there's an "outside" &you know there's a way out. Not so in narcissism. The outside has long faded into oblivion, if it ever existed. And there's no way out."

back to the above article!

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At the same time, there are high expectations of achievement & success. Children learn not to disclose doubts, fears, anxieties & imperfections.

Instead they try to solve their problems by manipulating weight & food, trying to achieve the appearance of success even if they don't feel successful.

Research at Oregon Health & Science Univ. in Portland has produced strong evidence that exposure to stress (abuse, neglect, loss of a parent) in childhood increases the risk of behavioral & emotional problems (anxiety, depression, suicidality, drug abuse - phenomena frequently associated with eating disorders) in teenagers & young adults. For details, see the OHSU press release.

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more examples of emotionally cool or emotionally absent parenting:
 
Emotionally Absent Father
That's what I believe has plagued my wife for many years. Her father was at home, but wasn't there for her or her sister. Mother and father finally divorced when she was around 11 or 12. Sister got married young, had kids, husband abusive, messy divorce.

All predictable as effects of an "emotionally absent father".

What I'm looking for are articles on this that relate specifically to daughters and how it affects their own marriages.

With a possible cause, one can find a possible cure.

And possibly find happiness.

Can you help me find happiness again?

I did all the possible Google searches on this but nothing was concrete and specific on how this could affect a daughter in her own marriage later in life.

I see a glimmer of light at the end of a dark tunnel.

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In addition, other research suggests that daughters of mothers with histories of eating disorders may be at higher risk of eating disorders themselves than are children of mothers with few food & weight issues.

Children learn attitudes about dieting & their bodies thru observation. When mom is dissatisfied with her body & frequently diets, daughters will learn to base their self-worth on their appearance, says Christine Gerbstadt, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association.

Alison Field, lead author of a Harvard study of peer, parent & media influences on children's dieting behavior & body image attutudes (Pediatrics, Vol. 107 No. 1 January 2001, pp. 54-60) adds that "even small cues - such as making self-deprecating remarks about bulging thighs or squealing in delight over a few lost pounds - can send the message that thinness is to be prized above all else."

According to a report published in the April 1999 issue of the International Journal of Eating Disorders, mothers who have anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating disorder handle food issues & weight concerns differently than mothers who have never had eating disorders.

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Patterns are observable even in infancy.

They include:

  • odd feeding schedules
  • using food for rewards
  • punishments
  • comfort
  • other non-nutritive purposes
  • concerns about their daughters' weight

Still to be determined is whether or not daughters of mothers with eating disorders will themselves become eating disordered when they reach adolescence.

Also, if mothers & fathers preach & nag about junk food & try to limit their children's access to treats, the children will desire & overeat these very items.  (click here to read other info)

A recent study (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2003;78:215) indicates that when parents restrict eating, children are more likely to eat when they're not hungry.

The more severe the restriction, the stronger the desire to eat prohibited foods. These behaviors may set the stage for a full blown eating disorder in the future.

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OHSU Research Reveals Likely Connection Between Early-Life Stress & Mental Health Problems During The Teenage Years (November 16, 2005)

Research to be presented Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting in Washington, D.C. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. -  Research conducted at the Oregon National Primate Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University & at the University of Pittsburgh suggests a strong link between significant stress early in life & the increased incidence of mental health problems during adolescence.

The research strengthens the case for proactive treatment or counseling of children who undergo a significant early-life stress. The research is being presented during the Society for Neuroscience meeting in Washington, D.C., Nov. 12-16. The meeting is one of the largest & most respected gatherings of neuroscientists in the world.

Both past research & human observation reveal that children who experience early-life stresses such as:

have an increased risk of developing attachment disorders.

Later in childhood, these same children show an increased incidence of manifesting some types of  behavioral & emotional disorders, including:

Both genetic factors & life experiences appear to play a role in the causes of these mental health disorders.

"Until now only human observation & theories have suggested that early-life stresses can also lead to problems as far away as the teenage years," said Judy Cameron, Ph.D., a senior scientist in the divisions of Reproductive Sciences & Neuroscience at the OHSU Oregon National Primate Research Center.

Cameron also is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. "By studying a species that has responses to early-life stresses that are very similar to young children, we can get a developmental picture that is much clearer than in humans."
 
Interpretation of human epidemiological studies are often difficult because children experiencing early-life stresses frequently have exposure to many other situations, such as:

both of which can increase the incidence of mental health problems.

In contrast, for this study researchers were able to rear rhesus macaque monkeys with a one-time stress exposure, followed by rearing in a very stable social environment.

The findings provide strong evidence that stress exposure early in life can have dramatic, long-lasting effects that persist into the teenage years & perhaps even adulthood, even in the face of an otherwise stable rearing, such as would be recommended for children experiencing early life stresses

"Some of the most important clinical questions targeting early intervention for behavioral & emotional problems in youth will require a deeper understanding of the unique vulnerabilities linked to neural changes at puberty & adolescence - & more specifically, how these adolescent changes interact with earlier vulnerabilities such as major life stressors & social adversity early in life," said Ronald E. Dahl, M.D., the Staunton Professor of Psychiatry & Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh.

"This line of study by the Cameron lab is providing unique insights into these developmental interactions in ways that can't be achieved in controlled studies in humans."

The researchers studied 16 small social groups of monkeys for a 3 year period. Because monkeys mature at a much more accelerated pace than humans, a monkey 2 to 4 years old would correspond to a human teenager in regard to mental & physical development.

To ascertain the impacts of an early-life stress, certain monkeys had their mothers removed from the social group at various stages early in life. These monkeys continued to be raised in the stable social groups with other monkeys - similar to a human child that loses a parent but continues to be raised in their family.

Some infant monkeys had their mothers removed from the social group when they were 1 week old. These infants went on to be alert & active, but to show less than normal interest in social interactions.

Their behavior looked similar to children who develop a form of attachment disorder characterized by withdrawal from social interactions.

Some infant monkeys had their mothers removed from the social group when they were 1 month old. These infants went on to show increased clinginess & seek social comfort more than normal. Their behavior looked similar to children who develop a form of attachment disorder characterized by indiscriminate clinginess.